Chapter 10
I didn’t say a word and simply turned back into the room.
But I didn’t expect that half an hour later, Chris appeared with a bouquet of fresh flowers, kneeling on one knee to propose.
“Hailey, I can’t wait any longer. I’m afraid that if I do, you’ll forgive him.”
Chris held out the beautiful bouquet in front of me. Considering the weather, getting fresh flowers wasn’t easy. I looked into his earnest, puppy–like eyes and still refused him.
“Chris, I told you from the start that I won’t marry you. I’ve just gone through a failed marriage and don’t want to step into another one.
I know you like me, but there’s an eight–year age gap between us. Dating is one thing; marriage is another. I’m sorry, but I can’t accept your proposal.”
Chris lowered his head in disappointment. My words may have been harsh, but for both of us, they
were the truth.
Just as I was unsure how to comfort him, he lifted his head again, beaming at me, “It’s okay, Hailey. If you want to just date forever, I can do that with you. From now on, I’ll follow your lead in everything, alright?”
Seeing the light in his eyes, I no longer refused. Chris was young, handsome, and perfect for
dating.
James spent the next month trying to resolve the chaos he had created.
A month later, I saw the news.
Susan had been sentenced to twelve years in prison for corporate espionage.
James held a press conference, publicly apologizing to me. In it, he transferred all the Crescent Heights shares under his name to me.
“I treated my wife poorly, which led our marriage to end. My ambition blinded me, and I lost sight of why I started this company in the first place.
All I ever wanted was to give Hailey a comfortable life, and I take full responsibility for the troubles that arose. Thankfully, this incident reminded me of my original purpose.
Chapter 10
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I am now transferring all Crescent Heights shares to Hailey. From this point on, I will manage the company on her behalf and will no longer hold any shares personally.”
Watching that video, I felt neither joy nor sadness.
At the same time, my aunt called, saying that James had shown up at her estate again.
But by then, Chris and I were already in the Maldives.
My aunt, who recently had a boyfriend, thought we’d be disturbing her privacy, so she arranged a
world tour for us instead.
She later told me that James had spent the entire afternoon outside her estate. Only after the
moon rose did he leave.
From then on, my account received monthly transfers from James.
I had blocked all his contact methods; unable to reach me, he initially left messages in the transfer notes, but when I ignored them, he stopped.
Chris and I traveled from country to country, immersing ourselves in different cultures and lifestyles. My heart gradually filled with peace and happiness again.
Three years later, we returned to my aunt’s estate. Chris, having matured over the past three years of traveling, looked more manly and confident.
This time, when he held up a bouquet and asked me to marry him, I didn’t hesitate. I finally had the courage to step into marriage again, and a husband who truly loved me.
James arrived upon hearing the news. He looked disheveled, but when he saw my white wedding dress, his eyes welled up.
He had never given me that grand wedding I’d once been promised–Chris had replaced it with a simple lawn ceremony.
James turned and left without a word. I realized then that this would likely be our final meeting.
Book 1 Chapter 1-1
